The fall 2014 issue of YALS will land in member and subscriber mailboxes very soon. The theme of the issue is Yes I Can! The journal is filled with articles about the ways in which library staff and community partners are working to move into the future. And, it’s very much the future outlined in the YALSA Report, The Future of Library Services for and with Teens: A Call to Action.

In this issue of the journal readers have the chance to:

Learn about the work of YALSA’s Future of Library Services for and with Teens Task Force and how their work can help you better serve teens in the community.

Find out how OK middle school librarian Amanda Kordeliski worked in her state to hold a summit where library staff from across the state had the chance to plan for future services for and with teens. Continue reading →

Did you know that four months after an issue of YALS is published it is made available on the YALS site in its archives? Well, it’s true. If you haven’t checked out the archives now might be the time to do so. We have full issues available through Winter 2013.

And, if you need something more recent, don’t forget to look for YALS in EBSCO databases at your local public, school, or academic library.

In just a few days the spring issue of YALS will be mailed to YALSA members and journal subscribers. The theme of the issue is Best of the Best and it’s full of information about:

The winners of the 2013 YALSA Awards and titles selected for all of YALSA’s lists. You can read about the selections in the journal and then right here, on this site, you’ll be able to download (starting next week) reproducible copies of the awards and lists so you can give those out in your community to teens, teachers, parents, etc.

The Hub Reading Challenge where anyone, anyone, can sign-up to read 25 titles from YALSA’s selected lists over the next couple of months. Those that complete the challenge will have the chance to win fabulous prizes. Continue reading →

Soon YALSA members (and YALS subscribers) will see the winter issue of YALS in their mailboxes. The theme of the issue is teens & tech and it’s filled with articles on great ways to connect teens, libraries, and technology. For example:

Teen Tech Week Chair, Clair Segal, writes about how even the most time and money strapped library staff can use smart phones and features phones to give teens opportunities to participate in 2013 Teen Tech Week with the theme Check In @ the library. (Don’t forget Teen Tech Week 2013 is March 10 – 16.)

Teen librarians Erica Gauquier and Jessica Schneider describe their (and their teen’s) experiences with Minecraft and how teens are actively involved in planning and implementing Minecraft programs at the Darien (CT) Library. Continue reading →

Soon YALSA members (and YALS subscribers) will see the fall issue of YALS in their mailboxes. The theme of the issue is advocacy and it’s filled with articles on the importance of speaking up for teens in school and public libraries. For example:

Maureen Hartman, Hennepin County (MN) Library, writes about how building partnerships with community organizations can help you to advocate for young adults.

Heather Gruenthal, Anaheim (CA) School District, provides an A-Z on how to be a strong advocate for teens in the school community.

Ellin Klor, Santa Clara (CA) City Library, talks teen parenting and how a strong program for teen parents helps those working with the age group to advocate for the age group.

Krista King, Boone County (KY) Public Library, lets readers know how teens got involved in her library’s strategic planning process and as a result spoke up for themselves in the library and the community.

Welcome to the new online companion to Young Adult Library Services, the journal of the Young Adult Library Association.

Copies of YALS‘s fall issue, my first as editor, were mailed last week. In the fall issue, which focuses on communities and communication, you’ll find articles on street lit, hosting an Anti-Prom, an innovative alternative to staid Summer Reading Clubs, and much more. Unsure how to keep up with YALSA online? Jessica Sullenberger, chair of YALSA’s Website Advisory Committee, guides readers through Twitter, Facebook, the Hub, and the YALSA blog in a hands-on tour.

Watch this space for video, audio, and images that supplement current articles, as well as author interviews and updates on past YALS content.